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Bluesound Pulse Cinema Review: A Pretty Sonos Alternative

Chris Haslam

created: Jan. 11, 2026, noon | updated: Jan. 14, 2026, 3:51 p.m.

If you’re looking for a top-notch Dolby Atmos soundbar, it’s hard to beat the Sonos Arc Ultra. Bluesound’s $1,499 Pulse Cinema is a pricey new chapter for the Canadian company: its first Dolby Atmos soundbar with dedicated up-firing drivers and a center channel. Except for the lack of any HDMI inputs, it’s a generous and versatile collection that leaves the Arc Ultra in the dust. Size-wise, the two speakers are similar: The Pulse Cinema, at 47 inches, is just one inch wider than the Arc Ultra. Armed with a 500-watt, 3.0.2-channel, 12-driver array, the Pulse Cinema pumps out impressive levels of detail for both movies and music.

3 weeks, 2 days ago: WIRED